it works ok, most people will tell you that its not as competitive as a mech list, but truthfully its a dam side more competitive than some of the older dexes out there.. you will have to make some krooty weapons teams though, also some krooty power weapons and krooty power fists and krooty melta guns.. lol but it would be a cool themed army to do

It works a treat, combining the IG's crazy firepower with HtH abilities that can rivals that of the Orks (only the entire army isn't built around getting 30 guys across the board into HtH).

Straken and his super friends, 2 big blobs of infantry sporting Kroomissars and plenty of power weapons, kroot heavy weapon teams (krootox work too) to nail transports and armor, and some added units for funsies (STs can get meltas in range quickly, Sentinels give you flanking armor shots, GKs always fit in nicely).

GK's would have to be gk's.. but you dont need them, its a themed army, its just that GK's with straken make a dirty combo, espeically the termies... for sentinels just get sentinel models and modify it to have a krooty pilot.. that would be awesome..

A guard force kitted out for close combat will never be as numerous or as deadly as the same points in Orks.

Head to head that is true, but the Orks have to wade through guns to get in combat, only to get suprise buttseckst by furious charging guardsmen. Straken gives you that WTF factor, only it actually works unlike, say, Ogryns.

I think this is a fantastic idea. I am always for themed conversion armies of all sorts. I would agree w/straken as your company command head. Kind of a special character Kroot warlord. I would also suggest a couple units of penal legion as they're a little more "fighty" than your average guardsman. The ability to outflank or scout is also very Krooty. Ministorum priests w/eviserators as shaper council members that you can add to squads. Rough riders as Tracker Kindred. Marbo could be another special stalker kindred character. Maybe squads of Krootox as Ogryn. Maybe have a platoon and take Al'Rahem to have more of that outflanking kroot feel.